Looking into getting a case of Model Power Freight cars on Ebay. Any thought on these. Good, not so good. Are the wheels metal or plastic. Recommendations please. Thanks, Bill
depends on the price, good for filler, plastic wheels and rapido couplers...I might go after covered hoppers for $1 each
Yeah, if it was 24 for $49, then it might be worth it. Or if they all came with MTL compatible couplers.
Well at $3.96 per car certainly can be a cheap way to put some cars in the freight yard. And at about $4.80 a car for the buy it now still cheap. And a bonus. Double factory air. First in each unopened car box and then also in the Model Power box holding all those little guys and sealed too.
Keep in mind the shipping costs always; pretty reasonable here, I must say, but it still adds something to your cost. Another thought is: "Are the cars in the box pretty much what you want?" Maybe it doesn't matter. I think you can do better by finding lots, new or used, even smaller ones, where all cars are visible. Also exposure to different brands in mixed lots might help focus your preferences on quality, schemes, couplers, etc.
To convert all the trucks and couplers to knuckles will cost as much as the cars. Add to that the fact MP cars are very light and all need to have weight added.
I think the newest model power cars have a dummy knuckle coupler. You need to make sure whgich one these are if it matters to you. And the last MP cars I have seen stilll had the older metal wheels. Again, that may have changed. But for the price seems like a decent deal. Not great detail, but decent. Basically the same tooling as thirty years ago. Here is a link to their site. Notice some have different couplers and different looking wheels. http://www.modelpower.com/searchresults.asp?cat=159
I'm always interested in getting a great deal on rolling stock. I factor in all costs (purchase price, shipping, coupler conversion, etc.) My self-imposed limit is about $10 per car. I've seen these Model Power cases being offered on a regular basis. Usually no picture of actual car. Not the best of details, but I follow the three foot rule, anyway. Most case lots are the same car with the same road number. Changing road numbers is NOT on my list of favorite things to do. If it's a car you want and a price you're happy with, go for it. I usually pass because the only benefit I get is the under $10 per car price. Darrell, quiet...for now
